The explosion that completely destroyed the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, plunging Lebanon even further into the economic crisis, now seems to threaten the very existence of the country.
The images in the center of the capital, after all, with an exchange of heavy fire and rockets that resulted in the death of at least 6 people (according to the French Agency) and the injury of 30, evoked memories of the catastrophic civil war of 1975-1990.
All the more so as the bloody incidents unfolded on the main front line of the conflict at that time: the Tayuneh area, located on the border between Beirut's Christian and Shiite neighborhoods, on the road leading from Beirut's southern districts and the Hezbollah stronghold. to the courthouse of the city.
A hearth that never went out
What happened on Thursday is directly related to last year's disaster, even if it was just the occasion to rekindle a hearth that never went out.
This is because the victims came from the ranks of the supporters of the two main Lebanese Shiite organizations, the pro-Iranian Hezbollah and its ally Amal, who participated in the demonstration demanding the exclusion of Judge Tarek Bitar from the investigations into the circumstances under which the explosion in the port and those responsible.
According to Hezbollah and Amal, the first shots were fired by snipers, who had taken up positions on neighboring rooftops and aimed at the crowd.
Then, as the armed guards of the demonstration retaliated, the clashes escalated, necessitating the deployment of the army to calm the situation - although this may prove to be temporary.
It is worth noting that on Wednesday, the leader of the Lebanese (Christian) Forces, Samir Geagea, had called on his followers to "close the streets resolutely and peacefully" in order to prevent the demonstration of the opponents from reaching the Courthouse.
In fact, Hezbollah directly blamed the organization for the attack - implying that there would be retaliation.
Shortly before the exchange of fire, the court had also rejected the request of two former ministers to replace Judge Bitar - who, since taking over the investigation, has summoned both former Prime Minister Hassan Diab and four ministers. of.
None of them, of course, appeared before him, while the arrest warrant against another former minister has not been executed either.
It smells like gun powder
What is certain is that the situation in Lebanon now smells of gunpowder, literally and figuratively. The economic crisis, after all, has pushed most of society to the brink of despair and misery - culminating in the recent general blackout, which lasted about 24 hours and now proved to everyone, beyond any doubt, that the country has gone bankrupt and is failing. to meet its basic needs.
As a matter of fact, in the last two years, the country's currency has lost more than 90% of its value against the dollar, while last year inflation "ran" at a rate of 85%.
During the same period and until June, the prices of basic goods had quadrupled, based on the official data of the statistical service.
As a result, among other things, a large part of the population has been forced to dramatically reduce or even completely cut meat from its diet, while the queues at gas stations are huge due to shortages.
As for France, the country of Europe and the West as a whole with the greatest involvement in Lebanon, as an old colonial power, it kept essentially equal distances.
In a statement made in Paris, the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in particular, supported the independent and impartial investigation into the case of the explosion in the port of Beirut.
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